Smash Up: Big in Japan*
* 
Big in Japan is an expansion for the faction-mashing game Smash Up, adding four new factions drawn from Japanese pop culture. You combine two factions into one deck and fight over bases. It is made for players who know Smash Up and want more outrageous combos.
What's it about?
Smash Up thrives on shuffling two very different factions into a single deck and using it to capture opposing bases. This box throws in four new factions that wink at anime and tokusatsu. One note: you need the Smash Up base game to use them.
The four factions
- Anime fighters with fast, aggressive cards.
- Cute collectible creatures that are absolutely not Pokémon.
- Colorful warriors that are in no way Power Rangers.
- Godzilla, a towering monster that wrecks bases.
Who is it for?
For base-game owners with a soft spot for Japanese pop culture and cheeky references. The factions mix freely with those from other Smash Up boxes. Without the base game, you cannot play this.
Conclusion
A fun, reference-packed expansion for Smash Up fans. Four new factions sharply increase the number of possible deck combinations. Without the base game, the box stays on the shelf.
- 👥 2 Players
- ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
- 🧒 14+ years old
- 🧩 Easy to learn
* We like Smash Up: Big in Japan so much that we recommend it in the following board game recommendation lists 2026
- Position 13 in The best games from Paul Peterson 👨
- Position 10 in The best games of the Smash Up series
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